Twin homes could boost worker housing
The Housing Solutions Partnership supports decision-makers by gathering information and public input that can help manage growth and find workable solutions to our housing challenges.
One of the topics discussed regularly is that people can review their zoning ordinances and consider possible amendments that could aid the building community in providing more housing options to help keep our workforce able to remain and thrive here.
An example of this (which has been discussed in multiple jurisdictions) is allowing twin homes to be built where zoning currently allows duplexes or modifying zoning districts to allow for twin homes.
The difference between a duplex and a twin home (sometimes referred to as a dual home or attached single-family home) is that the common wall of the structure is the property line between two separate parcels of land. Each side of the structure can be platted and sold separately.
It is also different from a townhouse in that it is just two attached units with two separate owners and does not require common areas, a homeowners association or CC&Rs.
Some cities allow this type of platting on dual homes that are stacked versus side by side. Traditional duplexes are more difficult to finance and have only one owner. They often become rental or investment properties.
Rental housing is an important part of our communities, but there is a real need for more homeownership opportunities and more housing choices for various income levels.
Twin homes can help reach this goal as they can be less expensive to build and sell than two single-family homes; they can be individually owned, and it’s a win-win as they do not change the allowed development pattern or character of a neighborhood.
Twin homes also offer flexibility in having driveways and garages that can be alley-loaded if located in neighborhoods with alleys or front-loaded for neighborhoods that have driveways off the street. They can each be built with a different style and materials or could be designed as a mirror image of the other.
Examples of twin homes can be seen in several planned unit development neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene such as Bellerive, The Union, La Vista, and Atlas Waterfront, where they have become a coveted housing choice at a lower price than detached single-family homes.
There is also the potential to provide some incentives to builders willing to construct twin homes. One strategy would be to use a development agreement if a slight increase in density or a zone change was approved by a city council. In exchange for the slight increase in allowable units, the development agreement could include a deed restriction requirement tying a certain number of the units to being owner-occupied or limited to buyers of a set income level, based on Area Median Income (AMI).
Twin homes can be a successful solution for our region. Everyone wins if we can provide more housing choices without sacrificing neighborhood character or putting a strain on city services and utilities.
This is just one concept in the ToolKit the Housing Solutions Partnership continues to explore. Other ordinance review items will be shared in future columns and with regional decision-makers. For more, see housingni.org.
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Kiki Miller is a Coeur d’Alene City Councilor and founding member of the Housing Solutions Partnership.